The Press., 1887-03-31
E sHENRY WARD BEEoHER.


 saved by the multitude of an host. A mighty man Is not delivered by much strength"
 More than few times have turned backward in thought to see the firmly fix ed and imperturbable face of Gen. Grant. and associating with that face the immense armies he commanded, the battles he fought, and the victories he won, and have asked while he was iving-Will he die ? and since-Ls he dead?
 A few years ago walked along in the city of New York in front of marble pal ace, the then to be residence of the rich merchant, A. T. Stewart. Thoughts of the magnitude of his wealth, of the power consequent thereto, arose, and the query would almost come up-cannot this wealth, simply immense, in the hands of one who had industry, zeal and skill sufficient to gain it, be made an agency possessing enough of power to gain freedom from the ills of life, and purchase exemption, even from the hand of death
 In the years gone by have heard one preach, lecture, and otherwise address his fellow people with marvellous elo- quence and power. He possessed mag nificent physique, which seemed abund- antly capable to sustain the wear and tear of an almost unlimited amount of labor. Such was his presence, such his gifts with their luxury of fruitage, that one might almost imagine him born not alone to an immortality of fame, but to a continuing earthly pilgrimage one born, in person. al sense, not to die. But Gen, Grants soldierly qualities did not secure him from the attack of disease, the campaign of suf- fering, or thescOnquering of death hence the warrior who knew no defeat, made un- unconditional surrender to Heath. Stew art. with sagacity whicL well nigh coin ed dollars, foroe which crushed opposi- tlon, and a skill which made circumstances pay him tribute, could not gather dollars enough to buy an escape from disease, was made to yield to the increasing press ure of time, surrendered to the circum- stances of time, and was forced to pay the debt of nature, which involved the giving up of all he had. Henry Ward Beecher's physical powers were but the broken reed. as the shock of disease passed over him. His wonderful brain power succumbed in the briefest moment as the cold touch of times mortal finger was laid upon his brow, and the voice through which thous- ands upon thousands had been instructed and delighted, was mute in the presence of and at the summons of mortality. And again the fact that death is no respecter of persons has come before us, and again it has been proven true that t'there is no king saved by the multitude of host. A mighty man is not delivered by much strength. The greatest warrior is con- quered by death. Death enforces it's claim, collecting it from the man of mill lions, and one whose voice has controlled many thousands can only respond with the feeblest-here am I. ~
 
 event has given rise to these thoughts at this time, who is associated with our text, and in "a sense becomes part of it. I propose to speak few words this morning expressing some ideas which trust are suitable. First, J have to say that MT. Beecher has occupied too prominent a place in our country's history to let the event of his decease pass nnnoticed. He is entitled to large measure of gratitude from the American people for his stand taken upon nearly all the great questions of his day, and his name and fame should not be, nor hardly c0n be, dimmed by the narrow judgment which, not agreeing with him in few things, utters wholesale de. l nunciatIon regarding him in all things. He was about the same man, suppose when one party hailed him as patriot while another called him meddling priest as when the first party railed against him as mugwump, and the latter in turn ex alted him as patriotic and genuine re former. He was about the same man al heart when. he in student days preached revival sermons in New England schoo houses and western churches, as wher with somewhat changed modes of expres sion, as doubtless with changed views, ht has continued to preach to his fellow men If we never can before, I am glad we do il so large degree when one dies, acknowl ledge a persons virtues who has ha( the misfortune to differ from our opinions and conclusions.
 It was surprising that & man general, Icondemned by ono political party, and dis trusted by good many of another, should have proved so nearly spotless in the eye of all parties as did Ex- President Arthur When the sickness and death made tn, people kindly toward him, It was but lust tribute, yet MT. Arthur was the sam man in 1880 as in 1886.
 I MT. S.sJ. Tilden, suppose, was just a true a patriot in 1876 as when, ten year later, his life was ebbing out at his hom' on the Hudson. And John A. Logan wa no more an interruptions politician il 1884 than in the last year of his life, whel the event of death revealed the uprigh Iman, good and true, and more, worth. Methodist in regular standing. But i lstill is true, as rule, that the enlightened and reliable politician presents oatr politi cal ideas, the really sound sermon is re dection of ostr views, and the real ortho doxy is alone that taught by oar fathers. 1 Sometimes, where the current of publi opinion sets in favor of prominent per son deceased, there is an over-lauding, anC a4character is portrayed ideal rather thar real, perfection foreign to the frailty be longing in 8 degree to all. We should 1 look at all the sides of a mans life and ca reer before we pronounce judgment, aut not permit ourselves to become blind wor shippers alone on the one side, or whole sale opposefs and critics, and possibly de nunciators, upon the other.
 However we may differ about many things in the lifeso recently gone out, yer, few will deny MT. Beecher the possession of consummate abilitys;s very few will re l fuse him the credit of being conrageou and outspozen, and as ready to stand b, I the flag of the minority as with that of tn maiority. Yes, quite as ready, for, allow ling me to use the language, he was usual lily ready to sympathize and labor for th under dog in the fight. His sympathie were many ahdS broad, and it took a dea Iof torturing of words to make it appea that crust and cold water was goo, enough for the laboring man, when witl connection and fair explanation he said al most the very opposite. But l have no Il come to attack or defend Mir Beecher